GB2057259A

GB2057259A - Fitting for wall cupboards

Info

Publication number: GB2057259A
Application number: GB8023377A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Hetal Werke Franz Hettich GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Hetal Werke Franz Hettich GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1979-07-20
Filing date: 1980-07-17
Publication date: 1981-04-01
Also published as: FR2466222A1; DE2929405A1; FR2466222B1; DE2929405C2; GB2057259B

Abstract

A fitting for mounting a furniture unit such as a cupboard on a mounting strip fitted to a wall has a first component (18) formed by punching and pressing a metal blank. The component (18) defines a pair of parallel legs (22, 24) between which extends a threaded spindle (46) rotatable in an intermediate bearing plate (58). The latter has necks (60) engaging in openings in parallel legs (34, 36) of a second component (20) which locates on the strip to be pivotable on a horizontal axis. Adjustment of a screw (52) rotates the spindle (46) to move the component (18) and the cupboard relative to the component (20) while rotation of a spindle (68) pivots the component (20) to adjust the distance between the back panel of the cupboard and the wall. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fitting for wall cupboards The invention relates to a fitting to be used for mounting a furniture unit on a mounting strip fitted to the wall of a building.

According to the present invention there is provided a fitting for mounting a furniture unit on a mounting strip fitted to the wall of a room, comprising a first fitting component adapted to be fixed to the furniture unit, and a second fitting component arranged to co-operate with the mounting strip, the second fitting component being movable relative to the first fitting component in a predetermined direction by means of a first screw drive and being tiltable round an axis extending at a right angle to said predetermined direction by means of a second screw drive, a spindle of the first screw drive being mounted in two parts ofthe first fitting component which parts extending parallel to one another, the spindle of the first screw drive extending through a bearing member which supports the second fitting component in a tiltable manner, and a spindle ofthe second screw drive, which spindle is rotatable in the second fitting component being supported on a supporting part ofthe first fitting component.

The first and second fitting components of such a fitting can be manufactured by combined cutting and bending, and provides for a neat and stable guidance and alignment of the height adjusting spindle, since it is now supported in two points lying at a distance from each other. Owing to their long distance from each other, the parts or tabs of the first fitting component, which provide this guidance, can be relatively thin, while a known fitting of similar type requires a bore in a solid component to guide the spindle providing vertical adjustment. The present invention therefore achieves a significant advantags with respect to manufacturing costs. A further advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that the spindle of the first screw drive is subjected only to axial loading by the furniture unit, not to bending moments.

Embodiments ofthe present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fitting for a wall cupboard according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an axial section through a screw drive of the fitting illustrated in Fig. 1 which effects the adjustment of the distance between the back panel of the cupboard and the wall ofthe building; Fig. 3 is an axial section through a modified screw drive for adjusting the distance between the back panel of the cupboard and the wall of the building;; Fig. 4 is an axial section through a further modified embodiment of the screw drive for adjusting the distance between the back panel of the cupboard and the wall of the building, Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the first fitting component extending parallel to the back of the fitting and showing details ofthe screw drive for the vertical adjustment of the wall cupboard, the second fitting component and its swivel mounting being omitted, Fig. 6 is a perspective view similarto Fig. 1 of a modified embodiment of the invention, Figs. 7 & 8 are a front and top view respectively of the details of a further variant of the assembly according to Fig. 1, and Fig. 9 is an enlarged lateral view of a detail ofthe embodiment illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 1 shows a fitting 10 for mounting a wall cupboard here not illustrated on amounting strip 12 fixed to the wall of a building and indicated by a broken line. The fitting 10 essentially lies behind the back panel of the cupboard, the only projecting part being a mounting section 14, which extends into the interior of the cupboard through a narrow slot in its back panel. The mounting section 14 is provided with countersunk holes 16 for wooden screws, by which it is joined to the right-hand side panel of the wall cupboard. The expression "right-hand" and further directional terms used in the description below are understood from the viewpoint of an observer looking into the cupboard from outside, i.e.

looking at the drawing.

The mounting section 14 constitutes part of a first fitting component 18, which is fixed to the wall cupboard. This first component carries a second component 20 sitting on the mounting strip 12, which is adjustable vertically and at right angles to the back panel of the cupboard.

The first fitting component 18 has two tabs 22, 24 extending horizontally and parallel to each other at a distance when the fitting 10 is assembled, these tabs forming an integral part together with their connecting section 26. The latter in turn forms an integral part with the mounting section 14. The bottom front end of the mounting section 14 has a supporting section 28, which extends parallel to the connecting section 26 while, however, being offset forwards. For use with very heavy wall cupboards, a further mounting section 30, indicated by a broken line, may be provided at the upper horizontal tab, this also extending parallel to the connecting section 26 and having holes 32 for inserting fastening screws into the back panel of the cupboard.

It is obvious that the first fitting component 18 described in detail above can easily be produced by punching suitable holes in a suitable blank and bending the relevant sections of this blank by 90 .

The second fitting component 20 can also be formed by bending over sections of a suitably cut blank. It comprises two vertical legs 34 and 36 arranged at a lateral distance from each other and joined at the base by a base section 38. This base section 38 in turn has an integral angled carrying section 40, part of which extends along the lower leading edges of the legs 34 and 36, while the other part is extending downwards at an angle of 90 . The carrying section 40 can be inserted into a horizontal groove 42 of the mounting strip 12, which is opening upwards and adjacent to the wall.

As can best be observed in Fig. 5, the lower horizontal tab 24 of the first fitting component 18 has a central bore 44 for a threaded spindle 46. The upper, reduced diameter end of this is rotatably retained in a through-bore of the upper tab 22, which widens towards the top, the end of the spindle itself being correspondingly widened by chasing or upsetting. In this way, it cannot fall out of the first fitting component 18.

The threaded spindle 46 may be struck as a onepiece screw, its lower end, in the interests of economy of manufacture, being a gearwheel 50 lying immediately below the horizontal tab 24. This gear wheel 50 engages an adjusting screw 52.

The latter is enclosed with little play within a bent-over edge section 54 of the lower tab 24, within which it can rotate. As the adjusting screw moves backwards axially, its movement is limited by the contact of its head with the front of the lower tab 24; in order to prevent the adjusting screw 52 from escaping axially forward, the supporting section 28 is provided with a stopping tab 56 (cf. Fig. 1), which partially covers the rim of the head of the adjusting screw 52.

The threaded spindle 46 extends through a likewise punched bearing plate 58 with integral lateral necks 60. The latter are inserted into sectoral cutouts 62 in the legs 34 and 36. In this way, the second fitting component 20 is so supported by the bearing plate 58 that it is pivotable round a horizontal axis.

Since the lateral distance between the axis of the threaded spindle 46 and the left-hand surface of the mounting section 14 is essentially half of the distance between the external surfaces of the legs 34 and 36, the leg 36 is in surface contact with the mounting section 14 with very little play, thus pre venting any twisting movement of the second fitting component 20 relative to the first fitting component 18 round the axis of the threaded spindle 46; when the threaded spindle 46 is turned, the second fitting component 46 therefore only moves vertically.

The distance between the external surfaces of the legs 34 and 36 in total furthermore approximately corresponds to the distance between the left-hand surface of the mounting section 14 and the left-hand vertical edge of the connecting section 26, so that the first and second fitting components together enclose a cuboid space. In order to enable the second fitting component 20 to swivel on the bearing necks 60, the lower part of the connecting section 26 is provided with cutouts 64 and 66, through which the legs 34 and 36 can move.

For tilting the second fitting component 20 on the bearing necks 60, a second threaded spindle 68 (cf.

Fig. 2) is provided, which turns in a threaded hole 70 in the base section 38 of the second fitting compo nent 20. Near its head 72, the threaded spindle 68 is provided with an annular groove 74, by which it can be moved and tilted with axial and radial play in a vertical slot 76 of the supporting section 28. The upper end of the slot 76 has an enlarged section 78, through which the threaded spindle 68 can be inserted and removed.

The function of the fitting described above can to some degree be understood from its construction.

The wall cupboard is raised or lowered to the exact position desired by turning the adjusting screw 52; by turning the threaded spindle 68, the distance between the back panel of the cupboard and the wall ofthe building is adjusted. Either adjustment is conveniently effected by way of a small hole in the back panel ofthe cupboard, since the adjusting screw 52 and the threaded spindle 68 of the fitting described are arranged in close proximity to each other. This small hole in the back panel is easily blocked by a small, hardly visible plug, so that the fitting can no longer be seen from the inside of the wall cupboard, once it is completely installed. The screw driver used for adjusting the level and the distance of the wall cupboard is applied at a right angle to its back panel, thus facilitating its convenient and precise application.

For installing a second wall cupboard section, which would be on the left-hand side in the drawing, a fitting would of course be required which would be the exact mirror image of the fitting illustrated in Fig.

1.

Figs. 3 and 4 show alternative supporting facilities and designs of the spindle 68. As far as their function is concerned, the embodiments according to Figs. 3 and 4 are identical to the embodiment according to Fig. 2.

In the case of the screw drive according to Fig. 3, the slot 76 in the supporting section 28 is wide enough for the threaded spindle 68, which is similar to a self-tapping screw, to be inserted through the slot in any position. The threaded spindle 76 is provided with a snap ring 80 of a diameter exceeding the width of the siot 76 and thus resting against the lower side of the supporting section 28.

In addition to this, the base section 38 has a indentation 82 in the area of the hole 70 receiving the threaded spindle 68, so that the rim of the hole 70 corresponds to the pitch of the threaded spindle and the transmitted loads are distributed over a longer distance.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 4, a head 84 of the threaded spindle 68 is, in a movable and tiltable manner, directly supported in a vertical indentation 86 ofthe supporting section 28. In order to enable a tool for turning the threaded spindle 68 to be inserted into the head 84, a slot 88 making only the centre ofthe head 84 accessible is provided in the indentation 86.

Another embodiment here not illustrated comprises a double-threaded horizontal spindle, resulting in a steep pitch. For both visual and operational reasons, the arrangement of the adjusting screw 52 and the threaded spindle 68 in one and the same horizontal plane is to be recommended, in which case the vertical threaded spindle 46 may have to be relocated to the other side of the adjusting screw for reasons of space. For axially securing the threaded spindle 68, the arrangement according to Fig. 4 may further be replaced by a tab bent from the front supporting section 28 first forward by 90" and then towards the threaded spindle by a further 90 ; this tab would partially cover the head of the threaded spindle without in any way impeding its function and would approximately extend over the vertical adjusting range of the cupboard - corresponding approximatelyto the length of the slot 78. This possibility in indicated in Fig. 6.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 1, the threaded spindle 68 is supported in a threaded hole 70 in the base section 38, which is fixed to the second fitting component 20 and forms part of it. In order to prevent the threaded spindle from tilting in the threaded hole in which it is guided, getting jammed and suffering damage to its thread whenever the second fitting component is excessively tilted, the base section 38a may- as in the embodiment according to Fig. 6 - be fitted to the second fitting component 20a in an easily tiltable manner by designing it as a bridge using the threaded hole for guiding the horizontal threaded spindle 68a, and by providing it with bearing necks 62a which are engaged by the legs 34a and 36a. In this embodiment, the tilting motions of the fitting component and the threaded spindle are balanced by the bridge section base.

For fitting the first fitting component 18 to the wall cupboard, the measures illustrated in Figs 7, 8 and 9 may be taken. From the side wall 36', which forms an integral unit with the mounting section 14' of the first fitting component 18' fixed to the back panel 112 of the cupboard, a securing tab 114 of semicircular or dished cross-section can be bent outwards (as an alternative, the securing tab could be attached to the side wall 36' in some other way), this being very resistant owing to its shape and provided with a through-bore 115. This securing tab is inserted into a bore 111 in the side panel 110 of the wall cupboard and there secured in position by means of the fixing screw 116, which is inserted into a longitudinal bore 117 in the side panel 110 ofthe cupboard, at the same time extending through the bore 115 in the securing tab.In this way, an extremely durable and secure connection between the fitting and the wall cupboard is achieved. If necessary, the securing tab may be fitted to the other side of the fitting component, i.e. the other side wall.

The fitting as described offers the advantage of not subjecting the spindle of the first screw drive to bending moments. Load transmission between the bearing plate and the second fitting component is symmetrical and stress-free, thus ensuring safe absorption of the weight of the wall cupboards, however heavily loaded, by the fitting.

Further, the base section linking the two legs of the second fitting component at the same time serves as a correctly aligned working surface for the spindle of the second screw drive.

The fitting also offers the advantage of very precise vertical adjustment of the furniture unit and of easy application of a tool for adjusting the height of the furniture unit. The adjusting screw acts on the gear with a high reduction ratio and is moreover easill fitted in such a way that its axis extends at a right angle to the back panel of the furniture unit. In this way, the adjusting screw can be operated from inside the wall cupboard with ease.

There is a very simple mounting of the adjusting screw in the first fitting component. The axial location of the adjusting screw is especially advantageous and simple. With the adjusting screw in close proximity to the threaded spindle of the second screw drive, vertical adjustment and the adjustment of the distance between the back panel of the cupboard and the wall of the building can be effected through one common little hole in the back panel of the cupboard, which is easily blocked by a plug on completion of the adjustment. In this way, the fitting is completely out of sight.

Claims

1. A fitting for mounting a furniture unit on a mounting strip fitted to the wall of a room, comprising a first fitting component adapted to be fixed to the furniture unit, and a second fitting component arranged to co-operate with the mounting strip, the second fitting component being movable relative to the first fitting component in a predetermined direction by means of a first screw drive and being tiltable round an axis extending at a right angle to said predetermined direction by means of a second screw drive, a spindle of the first screw drive being mounted in two parts ofthe first fitting component which parts extending parallel to one another, the spindle of the first screw drive extending through a bearing member which supports the second fitting component in a tiltable manner, and a spindle ofthe second screw drive, which spindle is rotatable in the second fitting component, being supported on a supporting part of the first fitting component.

2. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein the bearing member comprises a bearing plate, each of opposed ends of which has a neck section, movably supporting in an opening in a respective leg of the second fitting component, said legs embracing the bearing plate.

3. A fitting according to claim 2, wherein the legs of the second fitting component are connected by a base section in which the spindle of the second screw drive is rotatable.

4. A fitting according to claim 3, wherein the base section has an integral carrying section, which is locatable in the mounting strip which is fixed to the wall.

5. A fitting according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the openings in the legs are of sectoral shape.

6. A fitting according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spindle of the first screw drive carries a gear wheel which engages an adjusting screw, the latter being rotatably mounted but axially fixed in the first fitting component and substantially aligned parallel to the spindle of the second screw drive.

7. A fitting according to claim 6, wherein the gear wheel is located close to one of the parallel parts of the first fitting component, and the adjusting screw is mounted within said one part.

8. A fitting according to claim 7, wherein the gear wheel is supported by one end of the spindle of the first screw drive.

9. Afitting according to claim 8, wherein the other end of the spindle of the first screw drive is rotatably mounted but axially fixed in the other of the parallel parts of the first fitting component.

10. A fitting according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein said one part of the first fitting component is the lower of the parts, and the gear wheel is located immediately therebelow.

11. A fitting according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein said one part of the first fitting component has a bent over edge section which encloses the adjusting screw with slight play.

12. A fitting according to any of claims 6 to 11, wherein the supporting part of the first fitting component has a stopping section which partially covers the head of the adjusting screw.

13. A fitting according to any of claims 6 to 12, wherein the gear wheel is an integral part of the spindle of the first screw drive.

14. A fitting according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first component is provided with a mounting section forming an integral part of a connection section, which extends between the parallel parts and extends at a right angle from said connecting section, the mounting section projecting from the remainder of the fitting to be inserted through the back panel of the furniture unit and secured on a side panel thereof.

15. A fitting according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an upper of the parallel parts of the first fitting component has an integral mounting section extending at a right angle, to be fixed to a back panel ofthe furniture unit from outside.

16. A fitting according to claim 2 or any of claims 3 to 15 when dependent on claim 2, wherein a connecting section extending between the parallel parts of the first fitting component is provided with cutouts in which the legs of the second fitting component are so movably located with play that the external surfaces of the legs are in alignment with the edges of the connecting section.

17. A fitting according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the supporting section of the first fitting component has a slot extending in the direction of movement of the first screw drive, in which slot a reduced bearing section of the spindle of the second screw drive, having a larger axial dimension than the thickness of the supporting section, is movable in a longitudinal direction, one end of the slot defining an insertion section through which the spindle of the second screw drive can be inserted.

18. A fitting according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the supporting section of the first fitting component has a slot extending in the direction of movement of the first screw drive, through which slot the spindle of the second screw drive can be inserted, the spindle being movably supported on an inner face of the supporting section by way of a snap ring.

19. A fitting according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the supporting section of the first fitting component has an indentation extending in the direction of movement of the first screw drive and curved outwards, in which indentation a head ofthe spindle of the second screw drive is supported movably in the longitudinal direction, the indentation having a longitudinal slot through which a tool for turning the spindle head can be applied.

20. A fitting according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spindle of the second screw drive has a steep pitch.

21. A fitting according to claim 20, wherein the spindle of the second screw drive is a self-tapping screw.

22. A fitting according to claim 21, wherein a base section of the first fitting component is deformed in accordance with the pitch of the spindle in the area of a hole which receives the spindle core.

23. A fitting according to claim 2 or any of claims 3 to 22 when dependent on claim 2, wherein a base section is pivotably mounted in the second fitting component, the base section having a bearing neck on each side engaging in sectoral openings in the legs of the first fitting component.

24. A fitting according to claim 2 or any of claims 3 to 23 when dependent on claim 2, wherein at least one of the legs has an integral securing tab extending outwards substantially at a right angle for insertion into a corresponding bore of the side panel of the cupboard and there secured with a fixing screw.

25. A fitting according to claim 24, wherein the securing tab has a semi-circularordished crosssection.

26. A fitting according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the fixing screw is arranged to extend through a lon gitudinai bore in the side panel of the cupboard and through a bore in the securing tab.

27. A fitting for mounting a furniture unit on a mounting strip fitted to the wall of a room substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

28. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.